Summer Updates 2023
Team Update
Directors
Don Elliott, FAICP
Don Elliot’s role at Clarion is changing, but his positive impacts on the planning world will continue. Whether offering advice to recent grads, speaking at countless conferences, writing and publishing, volunteering after hours, or expertly steering a controversial zoning code project over the finish line, Don has gone above and beyond in every aspect of his life and career. Over the coming year, our long-time colleague and friend will be scaling back his work as a Director and will continue to support Clarion as a Senior Advisor to the firm. He is looking forward to shifting his focus toward travel, time with family, and other pursuits.
Elizabeth Garvin, AICP, Esq.
We’re thrilled to welcome Elizabeth Garvin back to the Clarion team in her new role as Director! Having previously worked with Clarion in 2008, Elizabeth reestablished her partnership with Clarion in early 2020, collaborating on a number of land use code projects while maintaining her independent consulting practice, Community Recode. In 2023, she officially joined the firm’s management team. As a planner and land use attorney with nearly 30 years of experience, Elizabeth brings a wealth of knowledge about land use issues and a passion for making a positive impact in local communities. Welcome back, Elizabeth!
New Associates
Christian Schmidt
Christian is joining the Chapel Hill office fresh off of completing his master’s in urban planning (MUP) program at Harvard Graduate School of Design, with a focus in Housing, Community, and Economic Development. While at Harvard, Christian co-founded the GSD’s rural advocacy organization and specialized in small town and indigenous planning, as well as participatory spatial and process design. Christian considers Pueblo, Colorado and Tucson, Arizona his hometowns and his favorite mode of transportation is the ferry. Welcome to the team, Christian!
Maggie Squyer
Maggie started her journey with Clarion in 2022 as an intern. After completing her master’s in urban and regional planning (MURP) at the University of Colorado, we are excited to welcome her aboard as an Associate in the Denver office! Her time spent in the public sector reviewing development plans, processing entitlements, and responding to land use inquiries solidified her belief that zoning is an extremely powerful – and largely misunderstood – tool that can be leveraged to improve the look and feel of the built environment. Maggie is originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota and she loves concerts, hiking and getting over to the farmers market. We’re happy to have you here, Maggie!
Farewell
Paul Donegan
The Denver office wishes one of our Senior Associates, Paul, all the best as he embarks on an exciting journey to pursue a Spanish language program in vibrant Mexico City. We’ll miss his contributions to our team, but we hope he has many unforgettable experiences while learning and living abroad. ¡Hasta luego, Paul!
In The Works
Centennial, Colorado – Innovative Housing Strategy Support
Iredell County, North Carolina – Horizon Plan Public Review
Lawrence, Kansas – Districts & Uses
Maury County, Tennessee – Districts & Uses
Pueblo, Colorado – Development Code Assessment
Santa Fe, New Mexico – Project Brand & Marketing
Sugar Land, Texas – Mixed-Use District Public Outreach
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada – Zoning By-Laws Assessment
On the Blog
Flummoxed by the Fair Housing Act? Don’t let the complexity of federal housing law deter you. We recently produced a summary of everything you need to know (and the zoning regulations to look for) to ensure that every community can further fair housing with valid group living standards.
This guide is intended to help users understand the basics of group living under the Fair Housing Act and how the Act impacts local zoning regulations.